rut: ntM.\i<>.\ .NAV.YA-. 



M 



to be engaged iu the labor of sinking a tunnel for tl- PUI-IMKW ,,f aiding it.-, escape. SerenU 

 tra \.-llershaveseenth. skink thus bury itaelf, an>l have all carried axsay th.- same opinion of 

 it.-, jwwers. 



If .p-iietlx approach.*!, it inay often be detected sleeping in the hot sunbeams, lying 

 Mr.-trh.-d at 1,-ncth it) ion the stones or rocks, and so far steep*! in .shnuN-i-. that ii max U- 

 approached quite closely x\ith<mt taking alarm. 



'I'll.- name of Officinal Skink ha.s N-en gixen t<> this ivptile on account of the high place 

 \sliic-h it fnnerly held among the medical profession, and the extreme value which it wan 

 thought to possess when dried, pounded, made np neutiy into draught M or boluses, and 

 '-I <- in.-dicine. Then : U I J I :;-..- |fl W\ . b MM I HMHI ; m ! ', i 1. . ffUofe Ml 

 not thought curable by the prepared body of this reptile, certainly not the least repulsive 

 of all the disgusting substances which the early physicians delighted to <-hoo*e from the 

 animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdom, to fill their multitudinous boxes and tattles, and 

 to inflict upon their patients. Sometimes a physician would <-\. n .vine? lib t li.-f in th>- 

 efficacy of his medicine by taking it himself, and would swallow, with full Mief in it* 



.X* 



COMMON SKINK. -dMaew <*MMO. 



healing powers, the burnt liver of a hyena, the moss from a dead man's skull, the grated flesh 

 of a mummy, or the remains of a pounl.-l Lizard, together with many other substances too 

 revolting to mention. 



I>id a warrior receive a wound from a poisoned arrow, or was a woodman bitten by a 



nous snake, there was nothing so effectual for the cure aa the dried flesh of the Skink, 

 sometimes called 1 Adda, and sometimes known by the name of Dhab. He who provided 

 liiniM-lf \\ith this all-powerful m<-<liciiu> was secure against fits of all kinds, which never 



ked the system fortifnxl by a dose of powdered Skink, or were speedily driven away if 

 the sufffD-r had not previously partaken of this panacea. All skin * were cured by tin- 

 Skink, and even th<- f.-arful elephantiasis yieldi-d to its potent sway. 



\Vere the system too inexcitoble and lethargic, and did the blood mane too slowly 

 through the veins, a little Skink powder would restore the natural powers to their full 

 vigor. Or, on the contrary, if the patient happened to be feverish, restless, xvith a burning 

 forehead, a parched skin, and a hurried pulse, a dose of the same useful medicine would 

 cool the system, cure the headache, and bring the pulse to its normal state. It is an 

 infallii-1'- n-medy for worms, eradicates cancer, and removes cataract In fine, a satisfactory 

 .-tiiii.it.- of its valuable properties may be gained by perusing, in the daily Journals, any 



